Dante Scarnecchia on retirement: It was the right time

Karen Guregian, Ron BorgesThursday, January 23, 2014

Credit: Matt Stone

SCARNECCHIA: Retiring after 30 years with Pats.

Dante Scarnecchia still ran laps with the players during practices at age 65. But after 32 years of coaching in the NFL, a span that included seven Super Bowl appearances, the legendary offensive line coach felt it was the right time to move on, announcing his retirement yesterday.

There was nothing more to gain or prove.

“I just felt this was a good time to end it. OK, we didn’t win the last game, but I really felt we got all we could get out of this year,” Scarnecchia told the Herald last night. “I’ll be 66 in the spring. I didn’t want to be one of those guys who ends up leaving bitter or being told they’re too old (to coach). I didn’t want that. You know there are 13 coaches on our staff who were not even born when I started coaching. That’s amazing!”

Scarnecchia will be replaced by Dave DeGuglielmo, who held the same post with the Jets during the 2012 season. A 22-year coaching veteran from Lexington, DeGuglielmo has worked as an assistant with the Giants (2004–08) and Dolphins (2009-11) in addition to the Jets. He was on the University of Maryland staff last year.

DeGuglielmo has enormous shoes to fill as Scarnecchia was considered one of the best in the business.

Scarnecchia’s retirement comes on the heels of longtime assistant Pepper Johnson announcing his departure. While Scarnecchia is most known for his work with the offensive line, he also served as an assistant head coach to Bill Belichick.

“Dante Scarnecchia is a Patriot and NFL legend who defied the phrase ‘not for long,’ ” Belichick said in a statement, alluding to the quip about the alternate meaning of the acronym NFL. “In an industry of constant change, Dante remained a fixture here for the simple reason that he helped every player reach his highest potential, regardless of who he was, how he was acquired or how much raw talent he had. In whatever category a coach can be assessed — evaluator, teacher, motivator, problem solver, disciplinarian, team player, winner — Dante is as good as it gets. As many games as he helped us win and as much as we would like to work with Dante forever, we are blessed with the opportunity to have been with him as long as we were.”

Scarnecchia was the longest-tenured coach in the NFL. After entering the NFL in 1982, Scarnecchia spent all but two seasons (1989-90) with the Patriots. He served under six head coaches and was on the staff for 18 of the franchise’s 21 playoff seasons, coaching in 39 of the team’s 43 playoff games, including each of the team’s seven Super Bowls.

He was in charge of the offensive line for the last 15 seasons.

“I knew I wanted to be a coach since I was 12 years old. When I went to Montebello (Calif.) High School, I was coached by some great guys. I wanted to be like them. My dream was to be a coach and I’ve been able to do that for 44 years and I’ve loved it,” Scarnecchia said. “There hasn’t been one day I wished I’d done another thing with my life. I love teaching. I love coaching. I still love the game. There have been a lot of changes to it, but the game is still the game. It’s been a fun game to coach. A fun game to observe.

“I’m grateful to have had the good fortune to stay here this long with all the coaches and owners we’ve had.”

As for DeGuglielmo, during his tenure with the Giants, New York was one of just four NFL teams to post a per-rush average of 4.0 yards or better in each of those four seasons. DeGuglielmo, 45, was the Dolphins offensive line coach for Reggie Bush’s first 1,000-yard season in 2011.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boston College (1991-92) before moving to his alma mater, Boston University, where he played both guard and center from 1987-90.

Farewell to Pepper

Belichick also commented on the work of Johnson, who announced his departure from the Pats on Tuesday.

“I am proud and honored to have spent more years of my career with Pepper Johnson than any other player or coach” he said in a statement. “Of all the people I coached or worked with, nobody has more passion and love for the game than Pepper. His energy and wisdom for football knows no limits. Pepper made me a better coach and person and helped create some of the greatest moments of my career. He is a great player, coach and lifelong friend and I am sure he will enjoy continued success as he moves forward.”

No Welker discipline

Though Belichick had asserted Monday that Wes Welker’s takeout Sunday of Aqib Talib was “one of the worst plays” he had seen, and would be subject to league discipline, there won’t be any such fallout.

Head of officiating Dean Blandino confirmed via the NFL Network that the Denver Broncos wide receiver’s hit was not a violation.

“Under the current rules, this is a legal play,” Blandino said.

As for Talib and the knee injury that knocked him out of the AFC Championship Game, Belichick told WEEI that he didn’t believe the cornerback would require surgery.